The museum is mainly dedicated to the culture of Appenzell alpine dairy farmers and the home textile industry nestled between the magnificent Appenzell hills.

Traditional Appenzell folklore has three pillars: the culture of Appenzell alpine dairy farmers, the Öberefahre, or the yay in spring and autumn when the cowherds dress in their traditional colourful costumes to lead the cows to and from the high pastures; the home textile industry, i.e. weaving at the satin stitch loom and embroidery at the hand embroidery machine; the classical peasant paintings depicting cattle drives to the Alpine pastures from the 18th to the 20th century. The museum brings Appenzell folklore to life, with live demonstrations such as cheese-making in the 400-year-old alpine hut, embroidery and weaving, but also Zauren, or natural yodelling, and Talerschwingen , a traditional way of making music by spinning a coin in a bowl. In addition, temporary exhibitions regularly feature folkloric or cultural-historical aspects.